Fulham vs. Arsenal: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It's about time we close the book on Fulham, so let's go through the three stages of whatever the opposite of grief is. Goldi Poldi Hallelujah.

The Good

• Arsenal's front six - that would be Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky, and Aaron Ramsey as starters - were a constant threat. Aside from a couple of dead periods, the Arsenal attack did a good job of creating chances and finishing them.
• Giroud's first touch to continue the counterattack that led to Arsenal's third goal was spectacular. Some have called it Bergkamp-esque, but I'm not sure I'm willing to go that far. Still, a really fine play.
• It's a little early to say this, but I'm starting to feel like Bacary Sagna is as solid at centerback as he is at right back. An overreaction to a few good games? Possibly, but Sagna brings that out in people. I'm glad he seems more or less recovered from his injuries of the past couple of years.
• The team didn't stick to its game plan in any tangible way against Aston Villa. That didn't happen here, as Arsenal dictated play even when Fulham was in the game.
• Giroud scoring his third goal in three games is a good sign for his production all season. He looks confident and he's playing well. Long may it continue.

The Bad

• Allowing Darren Bent to score again. He's an Arsenal Killer, and I despise him. Though it was amusing that after last week, the only goalscorer for our opposition was an Aston Villa player.
• Despite their overall good play, the midfield was overrun at times in first half. They didn't always react to pressure from Fulham's midfield effectively, which led to counterattacks from midfield. When this did happen, the defense was mostly able to stifle attacks, but we demand perfection. Demand, damn it.
• One would think that you'd be mostly safe from attack on the left side if you have two left backs in the game at the same time. Not so, say Dimitar Berbatov and, to a lesser extent, Bent. To be fair it's been a while since Nacho Monreal has played, but even coming back from an injury, you'd like not to see things like this.

The Ugly

• The bench was a bit lacking. I like our young players, but having Gedion Zelalem and Serge Gnabry and Emmanuel Frimpong on the same bench in a league game at this point in their careers is a bit much for me. Injuries hurt, but we could use some help there.
• Adel Taraabt's free kick. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
• Tap-in goals are the worst. You'll take a screamer from outside the box or a well-worked team goal, but when the ball just rolls across the face of goal and the 'keeper - even in a game where Wojciech Szczesny played well - can't get a hand fully on it...that's no fun.
• Michael Owen's voice. At least he's not Stewart Robson, though.
• Berbatov's hairline. As Zito said, it's getting into LeBron territory now. He's starting to lose his grip on The Continental status.